What's On

The programme for Fleadh Nua 2013 will include concerts, céilithe, sessions, street and gig-rig entertainment, Irish language classes, set dancing competitions, Sean-Nós dancing competitions and performances, story telling, Singers Club and much more. The wide range of activities, many of them free of charge, will offer something of interest to everyone at this year’s Fleadh Nua. 

On Friday 24th , the internationally acclaimed group, Four Men and a Dog will pay a rare visit to Clare and will perform at the West County Hotel.  Tickets to this event are on sale via glór box office.

The Mulkere Traditional Group, led by legendary fiddle player and teacher, Brendan Mulkere, will celebrate London musicians, young and old. They will also be joined by a number of local Clare musicians on what will be a very memorable evening.

A celebration of the Irish at home and abroad in the Year of the Gathering.

In 'Spraoi', The Kilfenora are joined by their friends, singer/songwriter Don Stiffe, dancing master, Michael Donnellan and the wonderful West Clare Set Dancers. The show is an exciting celebration of Irish music song and dance from home and abroad.

Fleadh Nua 2013 is the 40th Fleadh Nua festival in Ennis and we are delighted to feature a unique group of musicians who have been wonderful ambassadors for Irish Traditional Music and for Clare, on national and international stages.

Presented by glór and Clare Arts Office in association with Bealtaine.

Register for our World Record Attempt to gather over 1100 Claires/Clare/Clairs in County Clare on June 23rd 2013.
Please bring a copy of your birth certificate to pick up your Welcome Pack. 

Registration also open from 10am- 5pm on Thursday 20 - Saturday 22 June in glór.

For further information contact the Clear Volunteer Centre on 065 68 66 800 or visit www.welcomingclairestoclare.com or  www.facebook.com/WelcomingClairetoClare.

Expressing yourself in nonverbal communication, enhance observation and imagination and so create the world around you.

For ages 10+

Explore what an eye as a moveble body part can do with you as individual and in the group, put it into sequences and perform it on the streets in the colourful all over body suits.

Age 15+

Learn how to make and move shadow puppets, make caricature masks and watch as different characters come to life while you play with moving behind the shadow screen.

Age 8+

11am - 12.30pm:     Children 8+
1pm - 2.30pm:         Children 8+
3pm - 4.30pm:         Adults 15+

Learn how to make Origami, a unique Japanese Art in which various forms such as animals, flowers and geometry figures are created by folding paper.

Age 8+

Bring your favourite toy to accompany you on this journey of drawing. You will draw your toy, exploring textures, shapes and colour, Try out different drawing materials, interact with group work, then create your own portrait of your toy.

For ages 5 to 10 years

11am - 12.30pm:     Childrens 8+
1pm - 2.30pm:         Children 8+
3pm - 4.30pm:         Adults 15+

Enjoy Fun Yoga with Seema, originally from India. This workshop will provide you with the different techniques of Yoga with stretching and relaxation.

Suitable for all ages

Ennis Laughter Dragons are back with renewed Laughter Power and they will spread more Ho ho ha ha ha’s, lots of silly songs and laughter exercises.

No age limits.

Positive and uplifting songs from around the world.
All ages, all abilities, no experience required.

This workshop will provide young people in the local area with the knowledge, confidence and facilities to record and produce electronic, hip-hop & rap music.

Content: Introduction & brief history, Rhythm and Vocal Percussion, Djing, Rap/song writing, Production & Sampling, Recording, Performance and Resources & Advice.

Age 10+

11am - 12.30pm:    Acrobatics / children 8+
1pm - 2.30pm:       Aerial / children 8+
3pm -  4.30pm:       Aerial / Adults 15+

2 plays in one night presented by Dha Lamh Theatre

This Happened in The City Jail  (The Story of Hansel and Gretel)
Written and directed by Laura Mulcahy

The text of this play has been inspired by the original tale of Hansel and Gretel, Laura Mulcahy’s experiences as a drama facilitator in Mountjoy Prison’s Dochas Centre and the incomparable experimental jazz album ’Basquiat Strings.’ The text is a blend of fantasy and documentary playwrighting which utilizes the enchantment of the traditional fairy-tale to place the largely ignored prison population centre-stage for a change. Comedy and drama are juxtaposed in this very modern piece and the result is a very fresh, innovative and touching look at both the conventions of theatre today and the way the prison population are viewed.

Baglady by Frank McGuinness
Initially written for Maureen Toal (1930- 2012) and first staged in the Abbey Theatre in 1985, ‘Baglady’ by Frank McGuinness is a touching and revealing drama that tells the story of how a woman becomes alienated from life.  The eponymous Baglady of the title is a gentle woman whose life has been affected by violence. This post modern fragmented story explores the conditions & circumstances that have caused her societal dissociation.  During the course of the drama, ‘Balgady’ gradually reveals the events that have served to shape her as she lives out her past on the roads of Ireland.

Learn how to play real Brazilian rhythms on a range of instruments.
Beginners welcome.

Age 10+

Smithereens is a local puppet theatre company working out of Clarecastle.  For this year's Ennis Street Festival they are presenting the well known classic, 'Tragical Comedie of Mr Punch'. 

Forget 'Cats', Punch and Judy has been running in one form or another around the world since before the 15th century and is still just as entertaining now as it was then.  Whether you're eight or eighty years old, come and join in the raucous hilarity of Mr Punch's adventure, but watch out for that pesky crocodile!...

A play in one act by Conor Montague

Life isn’t a game of hurling.
Would you kill for a friend? Would you kill your best friend? Do you have what it takes?

Former All-Star hurler, Martin ‘The Butcher’ Molloy, is defined by courage, weakened by loss, haunted by failure. Confrontation with an old friend inspires a journey through the dark recesses of consciousness in search of acceptance, forgiveness and a new beginning.

The Butcher Molloy descends deep into the dark to retrieve slivers of light from within the despair of a broken hero. Love, friendship, illness, courage, death, and assisted suicide are just some of the topics meditated upon over the course of a dialogue that mixes tears with laughter, despondency with hope, and croquet with hurling.

Cast: John Donnellan, Conor Montague, Ciara Brady

Síomha Brock's well of influences span the genres to include jazz, rock, country, folk and soul music. Síomha's presence and powerful voice can fill a room on their own; her enthusiasm and energy towards her singing is infectious and most impressive.

Having started her music career as a teenager at Clare Youth Service Bands Nights, Síomha will be hosting a night of entertainment to raise funds for CYS. The night will begin with members of the award winning Ennis Players Society performing a one act play directed by Joe Varden. Síomha and her band will then take to the stage alongside some very special guests.

An after party will be hosted by The Rowan Tree Cafe Car from 11pm. Free entry for glór ticket holders.

As part of the 26th Annual Traditional Music Festival, Italian neurologist Dr. Daniele Volpe will present his latest findings “The Therapeutic Effects of Irish Set Dancing in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease".

Dr. Volpe’s dance group of Parkinson’s patients are to be special guest performers and Doctor Volpe will present his latest findings. He will be accompanied by the set dancing fraternity from Venice, Italian Musicians and the mayor of Bendeno.  A truly unique event not to be missed!

To view the programme for this conference, please visit their site by clicking here.